Books about Multiplayer from Amazon.com

Although the number of commercial Java games is still small compared to those written in C or C++, the market is expanding rapidly. Recent updates to Java make it faster and easier to create powerful gaming applications-particularly Java 3D-is fueling an explosive growth in Java games. Java games like Puzzle Pirates, Chrome, Star Wars Galaxies, Runescape, Alien Flux, Kingdom of Wars, Law and Order II, Roboforge, Tom Clancy's Politika, and scores of others have earned awards and become bestsellers.

Java developers new to graphics and game programming, as well as game developers new to Java 3D, will find "Killer Game Programming in Java" invaluable. This new book is a practical introduction to the latest Java graphics and game programming technologies and techniques. It is the first book to thoroughly cover Java's 3D capabilities for all types of graphics and game development projects.

"Killer Game Programming in Java" is a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know to program cool, testosterone-drenched Java games. It will give you reusable techniques to create everything from fast, full-screen action games to multiplayer 3D games. In addition to the most thorough coverage of Java 3D available, "Killer Game Programming in Java" also clearly details the older, better-known 2D APIs, 3D sprites, animated 3D sprites, first-person shooter programming, sound, fractals, and networked games. "Killer Game Programming in Java" is a must-have for anyone who wants to create adrenaline-fueled games in Java..
Price: $25.97 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Basic Game Design and Creation teaches novices (8-80) how to create ten different games – no programming required. The book portrays two different but interconnected technologies – game design, which teaches game enthusiasts simple techniques (players, sound, animation, scoring, scenery, etc) and object technology, a new natural paradigm for creating software that is revolutionizing the software industry. Through the step-by-step projects and creation of numerous games, readers actually become game designers, creating different kinds of objects and environments. Every chapter helps readers to create a new two dimensional and isometric game using Game Maker, a rapid-application development tool for beginning game programmers. Using many "drag and drop" tools and video tutorials, users are able to learn object technology, and can create and publish games very quickly. This is a must-have resource for anyone who is looking to master introductory game programming!

KEY FEATURES: • Teaches how to create ten different games with GameMaker – no programming required • Includes a companion CD-ROM with a demo of GameMaker and video tutorials for projects in the book • Topics covered include basic game design, particle systems, multiplayer games, and much more.
Price: $21.85 [Notify me when price goes down.]

All fun and games?

not.

There's a hot new online gaming phenomenon that's got Team Spy Gear's classmates enthralled. But when the mass enthusiasm for the game gets kind of, well, intense, our spies decide they've got to figure out who's behind the game. Fast. Oh, and also how it all relates to the oldest surviving epic in British literature.

You know, just a typical day's work for our under-the-radar tween spies living in suburbia....
Price: $1.82 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Welcome to the sixth volume of the Game Programming Gems series. With team sizes constantly expanding, developers are finding themselves pushed to become increasingly specialized. This makes it important to have cutting-edge, ready-to-use material in your specialization, as well as resources that you can call upon if you need to work outside your area of expertise. Volume 6 has been explicitly designed with your current challenges in mind. With the new generation of machines, players expect higher-fidelity models and animations, fancier physics and graphics effects, and more intelligent AI. All of these capabilities require robust teams and longer schedules, so to help ensure that your games are still delivered on time and on budget, you’ll find 50 all new articles written by experts in game technology from many different backgrounds and over twenty countries. This volume also includes a brand new section dedicated to Scripting and Data-Driven Systems, which is focused entirely on the growing trend of removing the programmer from the data-tweaking loop. So, whether you're a new game programmer starting out on this exciting path, a grizzled, industry veteran, or a most welcome visitor, we hope that you will find inspiration, insight, and at least one or two true gems to use in your world!.
Price: $43.99 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Multiplayer Game Programming enables you to write your own completely Internet-ready video games using DirectX and/or sockets This book reveals techniques and secrets of online gaming technology and teaches you the skills necessary to get involved in the video game industry. This book is perfect for hobbyist programmers who want to learn how to write online video games, software programmers wanting to move to online game programming, and the millions of video game players who want to learn about the technologies used in online video games.

Some of the features of the book include:

Coverage of both DirectPlay and Sockets
DirectX 8 with DirectPlay, Direct3D, DirectInput, and DirectAudio
Network design theory and implementation
Introduction to Windows programming
Multithreading
Player management
Peer-to-peer development
Client-server development
MMORPG design and implementation
Source for two complete INternet-ready games!
History of game development
Hacking into multiplayer games.
Price: $19.98 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Multiplayer Gaming and Engine Coding for the Torque Game Engine shows game programmers how to get the most out of the Torque Game Engine (TGE), which is an inexpensive professional game engine available from GarageGames This book allows people to make multiplayer games with TGE and also tells them how to improve their games by modifying the engine source code itself. After reading this book and completing the exercises on the accompanying CD, game programmers will be well prepared to make their own complex, exciting games using the Torque Game Engine..
Price: $49.99 [Notify me when price goes down.]

As the MMP game market continues to grow, new challenges and technology hurdles constantly emerge. Massively Multiplayer Game Development 2 is an all new volume in this successful series written to address the challenges faced by the entire MMP development team, not just the programmers. The articles include a wealth of unique knowledge acquired through the experiences of some of the online game industry’s best and brightest developers. These developers have worked on the most successful and anticipated MMP games, such as EverQuest, Ultima Online, The Sims Online, Second Life, Asheron’s Call, Star Wars Galaxies, and more. Programmers will find a wide array of technical tips and techniques throughout the collection, while designers and producers will find numerous articles filled with readable, informative insights to successful MMP design, along with time and costsaving production methods. Most of the articles are self-contained so they can be read in any order.! There is also a companion Web site that will be updated frequently with development news and commentary from the biggest names in online game development. This collection will provide the entire team with ready-to-use techniques and innovative methods for solving all of your MMP challenges.

Key Features: * Includes ALL NEW articles on cutting-edge programming techniques, design tools, and production methods * Provides insight from industry pros who have worked on the most successful MMP games, including EverQuest, Ultima Online, The Sims Online, and more * Provides a companion Web site that will be updated frequently with development news and commentary from the biggest names in online game development

SECTION HIGHLIGHTS: * MMP DESIGN TECHNIQUES: Virtual Worlds: Why People Play, Balancing Gameplay, User- Creation in Online Games, Guild Management Tools for a Successful MMP Game, Alternatives to the Character Grind, Telling Stories in Online Games * MMP ENGINEERING TECHNIQUES: Automated Testing for Online Games, Animated Procedural Skies, Time and Event Synchronization across an MMP Server Farm, Anti-Cheat Mechanisms for MMP Games, Optimization Techniques for Rendering Massive Quantities of Mesh Deformed Characters in Real-Time * MMP PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES: Large Scale Project Management, Managing and Growing an MMOG as a Service, Community Management: Do’s and Don’ts from Those Who’ve Done ’Em, Techniques for Providing Online Support for Massively Multiplayer Games, Asian Game Markets and Game Development.
Price: $31.32 [Notify me when price goes down.]

If you have experience with C++ and DirectX and have always wanted to program your own game, this is the book for you. Programming a Multiplayer FPS in DirectX takes you from the basic game design to a fully functioning game! All of the source code, assets, and tools are included- you just work through the tutorial-based chapters and watch the game come to life as you develop it. And as new features are added, you can begin playing with them to see them in action. Following a typical game development process, the book is separated into two distinct parts: Part One focuses on the design and development of the game engine, and Part Two concentrates on putting the game together using the engine. The theory has been kept to a minimum, so that you are following a hands-on approach and adding new functionality to your engine as you proceed. In the first part, you'll learn about the many facets of DirectX, C++, and object-oriented programming. You'll also learn how to design the engine and put the infrastructure into place. The next chapters will each add a new module to your engine including input, scripting, 3D rendering, sound, networking, and scene management. The second part covers the final development stages, including everything from game play to player management; it culminates with the complete multiplayer FPS game. Throughout the book you'll learn key topics that will bring you up to speed with industry proven techniques, while improving your confidence as a developer. And because DirectX is the most prevalent game development tool available, once you master this project, you'll have the skills you need to create a variety of games!.
Price: $29.90 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Second Life: The Official Guide is the perfect book for anyone interested in Linden Labs fascinating Second Life metaverse This book explores in detail every aspect of Second Lifes rich and multilayered virtual world, explains how it works, and offers a wealth of information and practical advice for all Second Life residents. 

The first part of the book, Getting a Second Life, acquaints potential and new players with the Second Life world. It describes the metaverses geography as well as its society, explaining the written and unwritten rules.

The second part, Living a Second Life, deals with the practical and economic aspects of Second Life: creating and customizing an avatar, building objects, scripting, and making money.

The third part of the book, Success in Second Life, discusses ways to enjoy Second Life more. This section includes profiles of successful Second Life residents, discusses fascinating in-world events, and examines how some are using Second Life for business, training, and other purposes.

The book closes with a glossary as well as quick-reference and additional-resources appendices.

The accompanying CD-ROM features special animations, character templates, and textures created by Linden Lab exclusively for this book. The disc also guides new users through installation and includes a code that grants a special object their first time entering the metaverse..
Price: $0.40 [Notify me when price goes down.]